Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Terrapins Refuse Penn State's Handshakes

A Big Ten school elicited charges of smallness for refusing to give their opponents five.

The captains of the University of Maryland football team refused to shake hands with their counterparts for Penn State at the coin toss of Saturday’s game. The snub led to awkward stares and empty, extended hands.

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Offseason sniping between head coaches and a pregame dust-up precipitated the rudeness.

“We are extremely disappointed in the actions of our captains involved in today’s coin toss,” Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson explained in the statement. “Their behavior is not a reflection of how our student-athletes should conduct themselves in athletic competition. On behalf of President Dr. Wallace D. Loh, head coach Randy Edsall and myself, we extend our sincere apology to Penn State University president Dr. Eric J. Barron, director of athletics Sandy Barbour, head coach James Franklin and the Penn State football program.”

The losers in sportsmanship appeared as the winners on the scoreboard. Maryland edged Penn State 20-19.